The whole premise of a genie in a lamp is that when we rub it, he is supposed to give us three wishes. We can have anything in the world our heart desires, but we can only have three of them. Many people try to treat Jesus like a genie in the bottle. We want to go to Him and have Him grant us three wishes. Jesus is not in that business, but today’s verse, we do see three promises.
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.
Three Promises
Jesus gives us three promises in this short verse. First, He tells us that we will have peace through Him. Second, we will encounter suffering because of Him. Finally, He has conquered the world. All we need to be is courageous, and sometimes that is entails waiting on Him. An easy life isn’t promised for those who follow Him, but we can be equipped with the necessary tools to navigate it through the rough waters.
Where’s Your Peace?
Where are you trying to find your peace? Is it in the creature comforts that make us feel safe? Maybe it is through some inner zen that we try to obtain through exercise and meditation? Real peace, the kind that passes all understanding, only come from Jesus Christ. That happens when He forgives us of our sin, we put our full trust in Him, and He is allowed to work on our hearts. This makes peace available even when we are going through tough times.
Be an Overcomer
Suffering is part of following Jesus because the world hates Him. Since we are associated with Him, we experience the effects of that and have to endure the suffering that comes along with it. No need to worry though because Jesus has already defeated the enemy and we are victorious in Him. When you are down or even wondering what matters remember that you are an overcomer in Christ.